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The First Civilizations Quiz
Ten questions on the river civilizations of Mesopotamia, Egypt, the Indus Valley and China, and on the habits and stories they left us. Every answer is explained.
- 10 questions
- About 3 minutes
- Medium
- Includes a map and a photo
About this quiz
Starting around 3000 BC, cities, kings and writing appeared along a few great rivers in Asia and North Africa. The quiz covers what those first civilizations left behind: the oldest writing, the oldest law codes and stories, a legendary wonder of the world, and a way of counting that still sets our clocks.
Several questions test famous stories against the evidence. The Mesopotamia questions make an easy start, while the Indus Valley and China questions are harder.
Topics in this quiz
Read up first
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Encyclopedia
Egyptian Hieroglyphs
Egyptian hieroglyphs are the writing system of ancient Egypt, used for 3,500 years, lost for 1,400 years, and decoded through the Rosetta Stone in 1822.
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Encyclopedia
Late Bronze Age Collapse
The Late Bronze Age Collapse was the destruction of the major connected civilizations of the eastern Mediterranean around 1200 BC.
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Encyclopedia
Mandate of Heaven
The Mandate of Heaven is an ancient Chinese idea that a ruler governs only as long as he rules justly.
